Once Upon a Time

10 Best Episodes of Once Upon a Time - Season 1

There is a town in Maine where every story book character you've ever known is trapped between two worlds, victims of a powerful curse. Only one knows the truth and only one can break the spell.Emma Swan is a 28-year-old bail bonds collector who has been supporting herself since she was abandoned as a baby. Things change for her when her son Henry, whom she abandoned years ago, finds her and asks for her help explaining that she is from a different world where she is Snow White's missing daughter.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 04, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Once Upon a Time - S1E11

#15 - Fruit of the Poisonous Tree (Season 1 - Episode 11)

A dejected Sidney enlists the aid of Emma to help uncover evidence that could expose Mayor Regina as the corrupt person she really is to the townspeople of Storybrooke. Mary Margaret and David continue their secret rendezvous while trying to figure out a way to unleash their forbidden love.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 1217 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E9

#14 - True North (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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Feeling their pain from having lived through the same experience, Emma desperately tries to help two homeless children find their birth father before they’re separated and put into the foster care system. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, the Evil Queen coerces Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact from a blind witch.

The episode was rated 8.04 from 1290 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E14

#13 - Dreamy (Season 1 - Episode 14)

Unlikely allies Mary Margaret and Leroy team together for a good cause to help the Storybrooke nuns sell their candles during the town's Miner's Day festival. But Leroy makes a promise to a nun, Astrid, that he may not be able to keep; and Emma looks into the mysterious disappearance of David's wife, Kathryn. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Grumpy finds forbidden love with beautiful but clumsy fairy Nova.

The episode was rated 8.04 from 1185 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E8

#12 - Desperate Souls (Season 1 - Episode 8)

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Regina and Mr. Gold play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma runs for a coveted Storybrooke public office against Sidney. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Rumplestiltskin tries to track down the ultimate power source in order to help his son avert the horrors of a meaningless war.

The episode was rated 8.10 from 1313 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E10

#11 - 7:15 A.M. (Season 1 - Episode 10)

Mary Margaret and David continue to grapple with their unrequited love, and Emma and Regina grow suspicious over a mysterious new stranger in town. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Snow White yearns to ease her breaking heart as Prince Charming’s wedding to King Midas’s daughter approaches.

The episode was rated 8.11 from 1244 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E16

#10 - Heart of Darkness (Season 1 - Episode 16)

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Mary Margaret hires Mr. Gold as her attorney when Emma is forced to arrest her for the suspected murder of David’s wife, Kathryn. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale land that was, Prince Charming sets out to stop a determined and unhinged Snow White, whose memory is still clouded by Rumplestiltskin’s potion, from assassinating the Evil Queen.

The episode was rated 8.15 from 1173 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E19

#9 - The Return (Season 1 - Episode 19)

Mr. Gold attempts to uncover the true identity of August, Emma confronts Regina about her involvement in Kathryn's disappearance, and David tries to apologize and reconcile with Mary Margaret. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Rumplestiltskin agrees to comply and do whatever it takes if his son can find a way for him to safely give up his powers and turn back into the loving man he used to be.

The episode was rated 8.17 from 1204 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E18

#8 - The Stable Boy (Season 1 - Episode 18)

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Emma continues her exhaustive search for evidence that will prove Mary Margaret's innocence in the murder of David's wife, Kathryn. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was and before evil blackened her soul, Regina must choose between betraying her mother, Cora, and marrying for true love, or betrothing royalty and living a regal - but loveless - life; and the event that caused the Evil Queen to loathe Snow White is revealed.

The episode was rated 8.25 from 1203 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E7

#7 - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Season 1 - Episode 7)

One of the town's residents begins to remember their fairytale past, and Storybrooke mourns the loss of one of their own. Meanwhile, in the fairytale world that was, the Evil Queen attempts to find a heartless assassin to murder Snow White.

The episode was rated 8.26 from 1412 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E21

#6 - An Apple Red As Blood (Season 1 - Episode 21)

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Henry pleads with Emma to stay in Storybrooke and continue her quest as the savior of the fairytale dwellers, and Regina concocts a plan that could rid her of Emma forever. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale land that was, Snow White enlists the aid of her fellow fairytale cohorts to attack the Evil Queen and save Prince Charming's life.

The episode was rated 8.27 from 1227 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E20

#5 - The Stranger (Season 1 - Episode 20)

August tells Emma how to beat Regina and how she can get custody of Henry, while Regina hatches a plot to seduce David now that Mary Margaret is back at work. In the fairy-tale world, a plan to save Snow White and Prince Charming’s daughter unfolds and is agreed to by Geppetto, who has his own child’s safety in mind.

The episode was rated 8.28 from 1205 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E12

#4 - Skin Deep (Season 1 - Episode 12)

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After Mr. Gold's house is robbed, Emma keeps a close eye on him when it looks like he wants to track down the criminal and dole out some vigilante justice as payback, and Valentine's Day finds Mary Margaret, Ruby and Ashley having a girls' night out. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Belle agrees to a fateful deal to give up her freedom in order to save her town from the horrors of the Ogre war.

The episode was rated 8.28 from 1292 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E17

#3 - Hat Trick (Season 1 - Episode 17)

While searching for a missing Mary Margaret, Emma is kidnapped by a man whose affinity for hats has him teetering on the edge of madness. Meanwhile, viewers will be transported outside of the fairytale land that was for the first time when the Evil Queen persuades a skillful man of magic to come work for her one last time and travel to Wonderland in order to help steal something from the Queen of Hearts.

The episode was rated 8.30 from 1232 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E15

#2 - Red-Handed (Season 1 - Episode 15)

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After Ruby quits Granny's diner and with her self-esteem at an all-time low, Emma hires her as an assistant in order to help Ruby discover what it is in life that she's good at; and Emma continues questioning David about the disappearance - and possible murder - of Kathryn. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Red Riding Hood yearns to run away with her true love. But she, along with her fellow townspeople, are virtual prisoners when a bloodthirsty wolf continues on its relentless killing spree.

The episode was rated 8.31 from 1236 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E22

#1 - A Land Without Magic (Season 1 - Episode 22)

Emma and Regina team together in order to find a way to save Henry's life. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Prince Charming attempts to escape from the Evil Queen's clutches in order to reunite with Snow White who, unbeknownst to him, has already taken a bite of the Queen's poison apple.

The episode was rated 8.52 from 1321 votes.

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